Carpenter&#39;s clamp.



No. 333,373. v PATENTBD AUG. 13, 1907.

J. P. PRAKER.

GARPENTER'S CLAMP.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 24, 1307.

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JOHN P. FRAKER, OF FRANKLIN, INDIANA.

CARPENTERS OLAMIH Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 13, 1907.

Application filed January 24,1907. Serial No. 353,877-

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN P. FRAKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Franklin, in the county of Johnson and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Carpenters Clamps; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to tools that are designed to be used by carpenters when laying flooring or nailing up siding boards of houses, the invention having reference particularly to devices which may be used as flooring jacks and also as clamps for various purposes, the obj ect,

of the invention being to provide a simple and eflicient implement that will be adapted to be used for general clamping purposes and one which will be durable and economical in use.

Referring to the drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of the floor and the improved clamp placed in its proper relation thereto for use; Fig. 2, a side elevation of the clamp and the floor joist showing the clamp fastened to the joist and holding a section of flooring together; Fig. 3, a fragmentary perspective view of the clamp; Fig. 4, an end view of the clamp with a portion thereof shown in section; and Fig. 5, a perspective view of the clamp-head comprising part of the implement,

Similar reference characters in the various figures of the drawings designate like parts or features of construction.

In the drawings A designatesa floor joist, and B the flooring boards on the joist.

The clamp comprises a stem 0 adapted to be used as a handle or a lever and at one end thereof are two integral prongs D and D branching laterally in opposite directions and having their end portions designed as claws to bite into opposite sides of a joist or the like, the prongs being twisted and curved one nearly towards the other but so that the extremities point towards opposite sides of the axis of the stem or particularly as shown in Fig. 4, so that the tool is held fast to the joist only when the stem is forced rotatively, and this motion is accomplished by means of a fulcrum E that is mounted rigidly on the prong D at a suitable distance from the stem C, the fulcrum having a pivot hole F therein, and a clamp-head G having an opening H to receive the fulcrum and a pivot I extending through the opening and through the pivot hole F, the clamp-head being adapted to be pressed against the edges of the flooring boards. Ordinarily the flooring may be held in this manner by hand while nailing the flooring, but in some cases it is desirable to clamp the flooring while the workman goes elsewhere and therefore the stem 0 is provided with a pivot .T on which is mounted a dog K having a claw point L that may be driven or forced into the joist, the dog being provided at its opposite end with a spring latch having two opposing lips M and N to engage the stem 0 when the dog is thrown up along side of the stem when not in use so as to be held out of the way and not be obstructive in handling the tool.

The end of each one of the prongs D and D is preferably grooved so as to form two sharp edges, but if desired the extremities of the prongs may have other suitable shapes.

In practical use the clamp may be placed on a trestle or carpenters horse to clamp boards together when making glued joints, and as above indicated may be used as flooring jacks or siding jacks while nailing the boards and for various purposes where anything may be clamped together upon timbers of proper thickness to be clutched by the implement for support thereof.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new is 1. A carpenters clamp comprising a lever-shaped stem with two prongs on an end thereof, and a fulcrum on one side of one of the prongs, said prong being curved hack wnrdly away from the fulcrum, ,the other one of the prongs being curved oppositely towards the fulcrum.

2. A carpenters clamp comprising a levershaped stem with two prongs extending laterally from an end thereof, a fulcrum on one side of one of the prongs, said prong being curved backwardly away from the fulcrum, the other one of the prongs being curved oppositely towards the fulcrum,

and a clamp head having a recess therein receiving the fulcrum and pivoted thereto.

3. A carpenters clamp comprising a lever-shaped stem with two prongs extending laterally from an end thereof, a fulcrum on one side of one of the.prongs, said prong being curved backwardly away from the fulcrum, the other one of the prongs being curved oppositely towards the fulcrum, a clamp head having a recess therein receiving the fillcrum and pivoted thereto, and a dog pivoted to the stem near the prongs to reach backwardly in opposition to the fulcrum.

4. A carpenters clamp comprising a stem, two opposing curved and twisted prongs extending laterally from the stem, :1 fulcrum attached to one of the prongs, a clamphead pivoted to the fulcrum, and a pointed dog pivoted to the stem and having a spring latch to engage the stem.

In testimony whereof, I nflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN P. FRAKER.

Witnesses Lnwrs ALLEN, WILLIAM Lnn PERKINSON. 

